UAH (3-16-1) vs. Lake Superior State (15-6-3)
WCHA Quarterfinals (best-of-3)
WHERE: Taffy Abel Arena, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
WHEN: Game 1, Friday, 6:07 p.m.; Game 2, Saturday, 4:07 p.m.; Game 3 (if necessary), Sunday, 4:07 p.m.
WATCH: FloHockey.tv (subscription)
TEAM STATS: UAH | Lake Superior State

The Chargers have seen a lot of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan this season.

In early December, they played Lake Superior State there in a non-conference series. Last month, UAH went back for a WCHA series with the Lakers.

This weekend, the Chargers head to the Soo for a third time this season, this time for the postseason. UAH and Lake State face off in the best-of-3 WCHA quarterfinals starting Friday night.

If the series goes three, the Chargers will have played as many games at Taffy Abel Arena as they have at Von Braun Center this season (seven).

UAH comes in as the seventh seed with a seven-game losing streak. The Lakers shot up the standings to snag the second seed by winning nine of their last 12 games and getting at least one point in 11 of their last 12.

The Chargers have played the Lakers tough, though, despite an 0-3-1 head-to-head record, all at Lake State.

The first matchup on December 5 saw UAH rally with goals from Adrian Danchenko and Tyrone Bronte to force a 2-2 draw. The Charger fell behind 2-0 again the next day, but scores from Brian Scoville and Frank Vitucci were not enough in a 3-2 loss.

To open the conference series in February, Bennett Stockdale put UAH up 1-0 in the second period, but the Lakers scored twice in the third, including the game-winner with nine seconds left, steal a victory. Quinn Green gave the Chargers the early lead in the second game, but Lake Superior scored four unanswered goals for the sweep.

In all four games, neither team had a solid shots on goal advantage except for the third game, in which LSSU outshot UAH 28-10 but needed that last-minute goal to win.

So an upset is not out of the question, but the Chargers, who have been shut out in three of their last four games, will have to get out of their scoring slump against one of the best goaltenders in the country. Mareks Mitens ranks eighth in Division I in goals against average (1.86) and sixth in save percentage (.934). UAH scored three goals against Mitens in his two complete games between the pipes.

Bronte continues to lead the Chargers in scoring as a freshman with 13 points, and he was named to the WCHA all-rookie team on Wednesday. He leads the conference among freshmen in points per game (0.65).

UAH will need yet another strong goaltending performance of its own. David Fessenden still has solid numbers with a .920 save percentage and 2.62 goals against in 14 starts. He stopped 31 of 33 shots in his last outing at Bemidji State on Saturday.

Lake Superior State’s offense is about average among WCHA teams, scoring 2.7 goals per game, but the Lakers have some dangerous strikers. Juniors Ashton Calder and Pete Veillete lead the team with 12 and 11 goals, respectively. Calder has a goal and Veillete has three assists against UAH this season.

The winners of the four quarterfinal series will meet next weekend at the rink of the highest remining seed for single-elimination semifinals and the WCHA championship game.

WCHA quarterfinal series. All times Central.

#7 UAH at #2 Lake Superior State
Game 1: Friday, 6:07 p.m.
Game 2: Saturday, 4:07 p.m.
Game 3 (if necessary): Sunday, 4:07 p.m.

#8 Ferris State at #1 Minnesota State
Game 1: Friday, 6:07 p.m.
Game 2: Saturday, 4:07 p.m.
Game 3 (if necessary): Sunday, 4:07 p.m.

#6 Northern Michigan at #3 Bowling Green
Game 1: Friday, 6:07 p.m.
Game 2: Saturday, 6:07 p.m.
Game 3 (if necessary): Sunday, 4:07 p.m.

#5 Michigan Tech at #4 Bemidji State
Game 1: Friday, 7:07 p.m.
Game 2: Saturday, 6:07 p.m.
Game 3 (if necessary): Sunday, 5:07 p.m.

UAH (2-9-1, 2-4-0 WCHA) at Northern Michigan (7-11-0, 5-3-0 WCHA)
WHERE: Berry Events Center, Marquette, Mich.
WHEN: Tuesday, 3:37 p.m.; Wednesday, 6:07 p.m.
WATCH: FloHockey.tv (subscription)

The Chargers’ stamina will be tested this week.

Not long after a tough series against one of the nation’s top teams, the Chargers head north to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to play four WCHA games in five days.

UAH’s first stop is Northern Michigan for games Tuesday afternoon (a multi-faceted rarity in itself) and Wednesday night. The series was originally scheduled for January 22 and 23 in Huntsville but COVID-19 issues with the Chargers forced a postponement.

With the Chargers already scheduled to play at Lake Superior State this Friday and Saturday and no weekend dates available at the VBC, the WCHA shifted the series to NMU instead.

UAH is coming off a rough weekend at home against No. 3 Minnesota State, losing 4-1 and 5-0. The Chargers played hard, but like most everyone else in the WCHA, are currently no match for the talent and experience of the Mavericks.

The Chargers will try to fare better against a Northern Michigan team that is finding its groove. After a surprising 2-10-0 start, the Wildcats have won five of their last six — all conference games — to shoot up to third place in the WCHA standings.

Last weekend, NMU swept a series at Bemidji State, which was on a roll of its own, by scores of 5-1 and 3-2 in overtime.

The Wildcats have kicked up their offense a notch, scoring 26 goals in their six-game run. The top line of Griffin Loughran (3 goals, 7 points), Joseph Nardi (6 goals, 12 points), and Andre Ghantous (14 points) has been especially lethal in that span, although Loughran missed last week’s series due to injury. AJ Vanderbeck leads the squad with 10 goals, with five coming in the last six games.

The Wildcats’ top goalie, Nolan Kent, has missed the last three games and is out for the rest of the season. In his place has been freshman Rico DiMatteo, the fourth goaltender NMU has played this season, and NMU has won all three.

For the Chargers, top goalie David Fessenden made 29 saves against Minnesota State on Thursday before getting hurt and leaving early in the third period. He did not dress in Friday’s series finale. Derek Krall, who made 31 saves Friday, will likely start if Fessenden can’t go.

It’s been a while since the Chargers have played four games in five days. The last times occurred during their trips to Alaska from 1989-91, where they would play two games in either Anchorage or Fairbanks, take a day off to travel to the other place and then play two more.

Minnesota State (11-2-1, 8-0-0 WCHA) at UAH (2-7-1, 2-2-0 WCHA)
WHERE: Von Braun Center, Huntsville, Ala. (COVID-19 policies)
WHEN: Thursday, 7:07 p.m.; Friday, 7:07 p.m.
WATCH: FloHockey.tv (subscription)
LISTEN: Penalty Box Radio

Minnesota State’s hockey program has been a force in the WCHA, winning the MacNaughton Cup as regular-season champions five of the last six years. The Mavericks are rolling again this season, holding a three-game lead atop the league standings and a No. 3 national ranking in the polls.

MSU has been just about everything the UAH hockey program aspires to be in its rebuild. For now, however, the Mavericks has been the bane of the Chargers’ existence: UAH is winless in the last 34 meetings (0-30-4), last claiming victory in 2002.

So the freshman-heavy Chargers will be decided underdogs yet again, but go for the upset they will when they host the Mavericks at the Von Braun Center on Thursday and Friday nights.

“It’s going to be an extreme challenge,” UAH head coach Lance West said. “People who’ll want to watch the game are going to get to come watch one of the best teams in the country and some of the best players out there. It’s an exciting challenge for our guys. It’s one of the things that when you decide to come play in Division I, you’re excited for a challenge against a team like that. That’s the way we’ve approached it all week.

“You don’t have to talk about it a lot, but what you talk about is the opportunity and the challenge. You want guys to face it head on. You can’t be beat mentally before you go into the game.”

Most hockey upsets start with an outstanding goaltending performance, and UAH will look again to David Fessenden to fill that need. Fessenden has kept the Chargers in most games this season with his .931 save percentage. He had 36 saves in the opener against Michigan Tech last Friday.

“One of the big factors (for Fessenden) has been (assistant coach) Carmine Guerriero,” West said. “He’s been able to really work with him on an individual basis, on skills, composure, knowing when David is too active, showing him things that maybe a guy who played forward like me just doesn’t see. He’s been really good for David and David has responded well and calm. And when he’s calm, he’s big, athletic, and can make saves.”

Goaltending might be the relatively easy part. The Chargers will still have to find a way to score on Dryden McKay, who has been a fortress against just about everyone. The junior has more shutouts (7) than not (5) in 12 starts this season, leading Division I in goals against average (0.84) and save percentage (.959). McKay held the WCHA’s leading offense, Bowling Green, to just one goal in two games last week.

UAH must do better than in last weekend’s series against Michigan Tech, when the Chargers played in a tight game the first two periods but were outplayed in the third each night.

“Friday, we just got beat,” West said. “I still didn’t think we played the type of game we need to play. We’d been off for a month and I just don’t think I got them prepared well enough for in that week for the pace they were going to see, which we’ve tried to adjust this week.

“Saturday, we played a much better game, but again in the third period they turned it up a notch, we made a mistake, and they’re good enough to capitalize. Come third period, you know you have to be better. You know in tight games in college hockey, even with us this year, you have to be the team that can’t take a break.”

Tyrone Bronte, who has nine points in 10 games, Bauer Neudecker, who got a goal and an assist last week, and Tyr Thompson, who is tied with Bronte and Neudecker with three goals this season, have been the leaders of the Charger offense.

The Mavericks are led by junior Julian Napravnik and sophomore Cade Borchardt, both with six goals and 16 points. Reggie Lutz (seven goals) and Dallas Gerads (five) lead a experienced group with eight seniors in the regular lineup. Winnipeg Jets prospect Nathan Smith has 13 assists.

The Chargers will need to be up for the challenge, not only against Mavericks but the road ahead.

Next week, the Chargers will play four games in five days in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. They will make up a series with Northern Michigan on Tuesday and Wednesday before heading to Lake Superior State on Friday and Saturday.

“There wasn’t a lot of people expecting a lot from us, but we expect a lot from ourselves, and that’s been the message from day one,” West said. “We’ve got to get our practice habits better so we’re more consistent, but come game time these guys have laid it on the line. I’m proud of them as I am excited about anything, because they have bought in.”

This week in the WCHA: All times Central.

Thursday, February 11
#3 Minnesota State at UAH, 7:07 p.m.

Friday, February 12
#3 Minnesota State at UAH, 7:07 p.m.
Lake Superior State at #12 Bowling Green, 6:07 p.m.
Northern Michigan at #18 Bemidji State, 7:07 p.m.
Ferris State at Michigan Tech, 6:07 p.m.*

Saturday, February 13
Lake Superior State at #12 Bowling Green, 6:07 p.m.
Northern Michigan at #18 Bemidji State, 6:07 p.m.
Ferris State at Michigan Tech, 5:07 p.m.*

Tuesday, February 16
UAH at Northern Michigan, 3:37 p.m.

Wednesday, February 17
UAH at Northern Michigan, 6:07 p.m.

*Non-conference game.

The Chargers had a taste of victory at home. They look to keep it going, although now they will have to wait a little.

The Chargers were scheduled to play Bemidji State in Minnesota this weekend, but the series was postponed to March 5-6, presumably for COVID-related reasons. UAH hosts Northern Michigan on January 22 and 23 for its next action.

UAH is on a high after sweeping Ferris State by scores of 5-4 and 2-0 at the Von Braun Center for its first two wins of the season last weekend. It was the Chargers’ first sweep in two years.

“It’s a great feeling for the guys,” UAH associated head coach Karlis Zirnis said of last week’s success. “It was good to see the crowd and the energy in the building. We came out with two wins, getting a little bit of momentum going our way and a little bit of belief in the locker room that sticking through a process and trying to get better every day. It’s a lot easier for the coach to come in and preach that when there’s results.”

Tyrone Bronte had two goals and an assist in the series, earning him WCHA rookie of the week honors for the second time. The freshman leads the Chargers with seven points (three goals and four assists) through eight games.

“He’s got a very good skill set,” Zirnis said. “He’s got speed, he’s got some good puck-handling skills, he’s got a good hockey IQ. What elevates him even more is his competitiveness every day. If it’s his shot, his speed, his faceoffs as a centerman, he’s trying to improve every day. Playing on the first line, he gets a lot of minutes. He carries a lot on power play and carries a lot on the penalty kill, too.”

Dayne Finnson also had three points, including the game-winning goal in Friday’s overtime victory. Finnson was named WCHA defenseman of the week for the second time this season as well.

Another defenseman, Drew Lennon, also had a goal and two assists Friday night for his first three points of the season, underscoring the Chargers’ belief that the blueliners can also contribute to the offense.

“It was great for us to see (Lennon) stepping out,” Zirnis said. “He comes in and works every day but doesn’t say a whole lot. Very mature kid.

“It’s great for us to see our defensemen contribute to our offense. We encourage our defensemen to join the rush. It’s a process that we’ve got to keep teaching and keep preaching every day.”

Goaltender David Fessenden had the biggest impact in Saturday’s win, stopping all 42 shots for his first college shutout.

“Saturday night, we didn’t play very well as a team, but our goalie came out and stood on his head and carried us through the game and found a way to win,” Zirnis said. “The confidence of David Fessenden should be ‘Rocket City high’ as we call it.”

An aspect of UAH’s play that has improved immensely has been the power play. The Chargers are ranked fourth in NCAA Division I at 29.6 percent efficiency through eight games.

“With the power play, you can get complicated, and sometimes when you get more complicated, it gets more confusing for the guys,” Zirnis said. “The units themselves have gelled pretty well, just keeping it really simple. Deliver the puck to the net when it’s there, and if it’s not there, then they make that pass. Don’t overthink it. I always say, in hockey, the simplest play is the most effective play.”

This week in the WCHA: All times Central.

Friday, January 15
#5 Minnesota State at #19 Lake Superior State, 6:07 p.m.
Northern Michigan at #8 Bowling Green, 6:07 p.m.*

Saturday, January 16
#5 Minnesota State at #19 Lake Superior State, 4:07 p.m.
Trine at Ferris State, 3:07 p.m.*
Northern Michigan at #8 Bowling Green, 6:07 p.m.*

*Non-conference game.

Ferris State at UAH
WHERE: Von Braun Center, Huntsville, Ala.
WHEN: Friday, 7:07 p.m.; Saturday, 7:07 p.m.
WATCH: FloHockey.tv (subscription)
LISTEN: Penalty Box Radio

The Chargers will play on the Propst Arena ice for the first time in 314 days on Friday. A lot has happened since UAH’s 4-1 loss to Bowling Green on February 29, 2020. Now the Chargers finally get their chance to show the home supporters who helped resurrect the program their gratitude and their fight.

“The guys are really excited right now,” UAH head coach Lance West said. “With everything that happened this summer and all the effort people have put in to give us the opportunity to play this year and continue our program, the guys and the whole program are excited to show the fans the difference, the culture, and the work ethic the guys have and what we’re trying to build here.”

Of course, the number of fans at the VBC will be limited. Arena capacity will be at 30 percent because of policies in place during to the COVID-19 pandemic.

UAH (0-5-1 overall, 0-2-0 WCHA) is still looking for its first victory of the season after being swept at Michigan Tech last week. The Chargers couldn’t get into a groove during a 4-0 loss in the first game. They played better in the second game, but allowed two goals early and didn’t fully come back in a 2-1 defeat.

Noah Finstrom got the lone goal for the Chargers over the weekend, and even that was a stroke of luck as the puck went off a Husky skate and in.

West said the focus for the offense has been getting back to their scoring habits.

“We’re going to have to manufacture goals,” West said. “Finish it at the net, battling at the net, funneling pucks to the net, and playing what we call ‘downhill.’ The focus this week is playing more downhill, where we have to be attacking the net, hard on shots, deflections, rebounds, creating those scrums and winning some of those battles.”

David Fessenden played in goal for both games. After a rough series opener, he allowed two goals in the first five minutes of Sunday’s game but hunkered down to stop the next 24 shots.

“(Fessenden) has been able to establish himself as our top guy right now,” West said. “He’s played extremely well and given us a chance to win pretty much every game and that’s all we can ask of him. Sunday was a big game for him because we gave up two early, and a lot of times with a young team that can go in the wrong direction. But our team and he responded well. He made the big saves down the stretch and didn’t let it affect him. He’s been huge, because I think he’s given his team some confidence.”

The Chargers will need to be ready for a Ferris State team that is just as hungry for a win as they are. The Bulldogs are 0-6 overall and 0-2 in the WCHA, the only other winless team in the league. UAH was to play a non-conference game at Ferris State in December, but that was cancelled due to COVID-related issues.

Last week, the Bulldogs lost at home to sixth-ranked Bowling Green by scores of 6-1 and 4-2.

“The thing I know about Ferris is I think they’re extremely well coached team,” West said, referring to Bob Daniels, who is in his 29th season as Ferris State’s head coach. “I have much respect for Coach Daniels as anybody in college hockey. I don’t put anything into the record. They’re looking for their first win but I know how good of a team they are and how well coached they are.”

Ferris State has allowed an average of five goals per game. The Bulldogs are anticipating the return of freshman goaltender Logan Stein, who was a backup for the gold medal-winning Team USA at the IIHF World Junior Championships.

Offensively, the Bulldogs have scored 16 goals in six games, led by Ethan Stewart and Mitch Deelstra, each with three.

This week in the WCHA: All times Central.

Thursday, January 7
Bemidji State at #7 Bowling Green, 6:07 p.m.

Friday, January 8
Ferris State at UAH, 7:07 p.m.
Bemidji State at #7 Bowling Green, 6:07 p.m.
Michigan Tech at #4 Minnesota State, 7:07 p.m.
Lake Superior State at Northern Michigan, 7:07 p.m.*

Saturday, January 9
Ferris State at UAH, 7:07 p.m.
Michigan Tech at #4 Minnesota State, 6:07 p.m.
Lake Superior State at Northern Michigan, 6:07 p.m.*

*Non-conference game